Daily Readings - Thu Dec 14 2023
Isaiah
13For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.14Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.15Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.16Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.17When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.18I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.19I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:20That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.
Matthew
11Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.12And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.13For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.14And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.15He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful messages of trust, transformation, and the fulfillment of God’s promises. The first reading from Isaiah paints a vivid picture of God’s providence and transformative power. Isaiah speaks to a people in exile, offering them hope and reassurance. God promises to take them by the hand, to provide for their needs, and to turn the desolate desert into a place of abundance. This passage is a reminder of God’s faithfulness and His ability to bring life out of barrenness. It invites us to trust in His plan, even when the road ahead seems uncertain.
The Gospel from Matthew shifts our focus to John the Baptist, who stands as a bridge between the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament era. Jesus praises John as the greatest among those born of women, yet He also points out that even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John. This highlights the humility and uniqueness of John’s role. The kingdom of heaven, Jesus says, has endured violence, meaning that it demands radical commitment and sacrifice from those who seek it. John, as the precursor to Jesus, embodies this struggle and prepares the way for the Messiah. His life teaches us about the importance of humility, perseverance, and fulfilling our God-given mission.
Together, these readings call us to reflect on our relationship with God and our place in His plan. Isaiah reminds us to trust in God’s providence, even in the face of adversity, while Matthew challenges us to embrace the humility and courage exemplified by John the Baptist. In our daily lives, we are invited to surrender our fears and doubts to God, knowing that He will guide us. We are also called to live with humility and perseverance, recognizing that the kingdom of heaven requires us to strive for holiness and to trust in God’s transformative power. Let us ask for the grace to walk in faith, to trust in God’s plan, and to live with the courage and humility that these readings inspire.